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Urban Planning and Civic Design
in Modern Iran
Conference
in Modern Iran
Conference
URBAN PLANNING CONFERENCE
Organised by
Iran Heritage Foundation and Dr Dariush Borbor
Date
Saturday 18th November, 09.30-17.30
Venue
Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7L
Description
The main purpose and focus of the conference will be on the evolution of urban planning and civic design in Iran from traditional to modern, with discussions and critical evaluations of the shortcomings, failures and successes of the process. Two major civic design projects of the period will also be presented and discussed: the ‘Shahestān Pahlavi’, and ‘Urban Renewal of Mashhad City Centre’.
Background: Iran has a long and impressive history of urban planning and civic design. The first urban centres in Iran, dating from the 4th-3rd millennia BC, already show evidence of sophisticated town planning in the form of regular streets, side alleys, pavements, water wells, irrigation drains, sewer systems and even cesspools. Achaemenid examples include Persepolis and Pasargadae. This illustrious tradition continues into the Islamic period evidenced at the famous cities of Nishapur, Qazvīn and Isfahan.
Modern Urban Planning: Urban development is closely related to demography and Iran has seen a huge population increase in the last 120 years or so, from around 8 million in the 1880s to 80 million in 2017. Around 75% of the total population now live in urban areas.
At the start of the 20th century, after a long period of neglect, there appeared rudimentary urban planning laws and design concepts which were limited to the creation of urban arteries, squares and roundabouts. However, modern urban planning in Iran only started in 1966 with the formation of the High Council of Urban Planning (Šurā-ye ʿāli-e šahrsāzi) in order to formulate planning regulations and policies, provide master plans for major cities, and approve and implement urban planning projects. In spite of good intentions, these master plans were not practical, due to the absence of the necessary infrastructure.
This conference is a sequel to the very successful IHF conference on ‘Iranian Architects and Architecture: Transition from Traditional to Postmodern’ that was held at Asia House on 12th November 2016.
Background: Iran has a long and impressive history of urban planning and civic design. The first urban centres in Iran, dating from the 4th-3rd millennia BC, already show evidence of sophisticated town planning in the form of regular streets, side alleys, pavements, water wells, irrigation drains, sewer systems and even cesspools. Achaemenid examples include Persepolis and Pasargadae. This illustrious tradition continues into the Islamic period evidenced at the famous cities of Nishapur, Qazvīn and Isfahan.
Modern Urban Planning: Urban development is closely related to demography and Iran has seen a huge population increase in the last 120 years or so, from around 8 million in the 1880s to 80 million in 2017. Around 75% of the total population now live in urban areas.
At the start of the 20th century, after a long period of neglect, there appeared rudimentary urban planning laws and design concepts which were limited to the creation of urban arteries, squares and roundabouts. However, modern urban planning in Iran only started in 1966 with the formation of the High Council of Urban Planning (Šurā-ye ʿāli-e šahrsāzi) in order to formulate planning regulations and policies, provide master plans for major cities, and approve and implement urban planning projects. In spite of good intentions, these master plans were not practical, due to the absence of the necessary infrastructure.
This conference is a sequel to the very successful IHF conference on ‘Iranian Architects and Architecture: Transition from Traditional to Postmodern’ that was held at Asia House on 12th November 2016.
Tickets & Info
Tickets: £20 book now
Friends of IHF discount available
If you would prefer to pay by cheque, please make it payable to ‘IHF’ and send this along with your contact details to:
IHF, 63 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LP
For any inquiries please contact astrid@iranheritage.org, Tel: 020 7651 2121
Friends of IHF discount available
If you would prefer to pay by cheque, please make it payable to ‘IHF’ and send this along with your contact details to:
IHF, 63 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LP
For any inquiries please contact astrid@iranheritage.org, Tel: 020 7651 2121
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